A section of the M25 was closed overnight with specialist engineers called to fix a large crack in the road.

National Highways confirmed the clockwise carriageway at Junction 3 for Swanley had been forced to close due to an "infrastructure defect" yesterday evening.

Pictures of the repairs taking place from traffic cameras appear to showed a split in the road surface at one of the bridge joints.

At 5.30pm, National Highways confirmed the nature of the damage means a permanent repair is required to make the road safe for traffic.

The agency said the closure will remain in place tonight until at least 6am tomorrow.

A team has been sent to the area with long delays expected for drivers throughout the evening and at one point, there were tailbacks for 11 miles.

All three lanes are currently closed with traffic diverted around the scene via the on and off slip roads at the junction.

Drivers are warned to allow extra time for their journeys.

Further problems have been reported on the Essex side of the Dartford Crossing following an earlier crash between J30 and J31 on the clockwise carriageway.